Photo © Mike Wall

Green Oak Tortrix

Tortrix viridana

Checklist Number
49.059 [B&F: 1033]

Verification
Record will be accepted (subject to date and location checks)

Classification

Family:Tortricidae
Subfamily:Tortricinae
Genus:Tortrix
Species:viridana
Authority:Linnaeus, 1758

Common in oak woodland, woodland, parks, gardens and areas with scattered trees throughout much of the British Isles. In Hampshire and on the Isle of Wight formerly abundant in oak woods, though prone to annual fluctuations. At times, larvae would reach pest proportions and form the staple diet for insectivorous birds and their young, but this phenomenon is rarely noted nowadays. Wingspan 17-24 mm. This species is unique amongst the British Tortricids in having a light green, almost unicolorous forewing [Bradley]. Larva feeds on Oak and deciduous trees, living within a spun or rolled leaf, causing sufficient damage to be a serious pest in some areas, over-wintering as an egg.

The abundance in each month is indicated as follows:

No records
Very occasional
Irregular
Uncommon
Off-peak, but not unusual
Off-peak, but not unusual
Main flight time
J F M A M J J A S O N D
Adult
Larval

Records by week (adult)

Records by week (larval)